tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12409732774460592372017-09-07T17:42:33.814-07:00Free-Range MonkeyA Photo-a-Day BlogDavid Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-9911748398973103682013-07-19T11:55:00.000-07:002013-07-19T11:55:04.700-07:00Week 44: Going PlacesI recently took a trip down to Florida to visit my uncle. A delay of my flight out of Madison meant I missed my next flight in Cincinnati. Meaning a five hour layover instead of 45 minutes. I love taking photos in airports, so I made the most of the situation. <br /><br />This really struck me. The reflection of one man, standing alone, staring in the distance...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGHUaMvfmCg/UctJymXDIsI/AAAAAAAAFEk/WlbNE6lXtts/s1600/20130620-Florida+2013-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wGHUaMvfmCg/UctJymXDIsI/AAAAAAAAFEk/WlbNE6lXtts/s640/20130620-Florida+2013-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I always love moving walkways for photos. Although I must look pretty silly riding back and forth with my camera on the ground. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a3m11rARc_I/UctJ0x2ZbXI/AAAAAAAAFEs/jsix3b5sDh8/s1600/20130620-Florida+2013-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a3m11rARc_I/UctJ0x2ZbXI/AAAAAAAAFEs/jsix3b5sDh8/s640/20130620-Florida+2013-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I had this whole terminal to myself. I tried a ton of different shots before I got this one. The blurred stools in the foreground had a really interesting pattern, but it wasn't really working having the focus on those. I also tried cutting them out of the photo, but I really like the addition of them. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5C3Vj6yT9Y/UctJ5tY7soI/AAAAAAAAFE0/w060HvJJHhU/s1600/20130620-Florida+2013-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R5C3Vj6yT9Y/UctJ5tY7soI/AAAAAAAAFE0/w060HvJJHhU/s640/20130620-Florida+2013-35.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I've always thought outlets looked like faces, but until I took a photo of one, I didn't realize the pain in the face. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VST1ZU8vRfo/UctJ-xgkibI/AAAAAAAAFE8/4923SGn6pTw/s1600/20130620-Florida+2013-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="548" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VST1ZU8vRfo/UctJ-xgkibI/AAAAAAAAFE8/4923SGn6pTw/s640/20130620-Florida+2013-42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Black and white HDR. I really love it, and might try and do more of this style. For some reason this looks very WWII to me. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rqt605EZNm4/UctKAIGm_nI/AAAAAAAAFFE/eithm3ax8aQ/s1600/20130620-Florida+2013-43_4_5_6_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rqt605EZNm4/UctKAIGm_nI/AAAAAAAAFFE/eithm3ax8aQ/s640/20130620-Florida+2013-43_4_5_6_7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />One of the few times I feel like I've used leading lines well. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBFJi7OpACE/UctKB5A64mI/AAAAAAAAFFM/bxfqMyRWErw/s1600/20130620-Florida+2013-67_8_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FBFJi7OpACE/UctKB5A64mI/AAAAAAAAFFM/bxfqMyRWErw/s640/20130620-Florida+2013-67_8_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Not in the airport, but I still liked it. It's surprisingly hard to get good photos of a sailboat, while on the sailboat. I bet using a fisheye lens could be cool. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cs8UoU60o1g/UctKDSoGSbI/AAAAAAAAFFU/FYdQgQUQuEk/s1600/20130622-Florida+2013-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cs8UoU60o1g/UctKDSoGSbI/AAAAAAAAFFU/FYdQgQUQuEk/s640/20130622-Florida+2013-17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-34748245504485242932013-04-09T13:25:00.002-07:002013-04-09T13:25:20.517-07:00Week 43: Petra's First MonthNot many updates to the blog lately, but having a baby and moving will tend to have that sort of impact. I figured it was only appropriate that my first post back should be of Petra's first month. So here you go. <br /><br />This one was taken by our doula Emily. A bit of a cheat since I didn't take it, but I really like it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cB7ArKr9FJw/UWNzfiE1Z5I/AAAAAAAADcc/bTU_gfm_JpE/s1600/Petra+-+March+2013-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cB7ArKr9FJw/UWNzfiE1Z5I/AAAAAAAADcc/bTU_gfm_JpE/s640/Petra+-+March+2013-21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This one was also taken by Emily, just after Petra was born.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-763m0gjmKlY/UWNziw34C6I/AAAAAAAADck/knaERLx5pWA/s1600/Petra+-+March+2013-36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-763m0gjmKlY/UWNziw34C6I/AAAAAAAADck/knaERLx5pWA/s640/Petra+-+March+2013-36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />&nbsp;As Mollie would say, this is her model face. Just look at those vapid eyes ;-)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSAKXIuD3LY/UWNziyHbHtI/AAAAAAAADco/UCvVcGAOBbY/s1600/Petra+-+March+2013-1-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSAKXIuD3LY/UWNziyHbHtI/AAAAAAAADco/UCvVcGAOBbY/s640/Petra+-+March+2013-1-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ahhhh, the joys of a sleeping baby.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W2fMBR_CPa0/UWNzqIq3BtI/AAAAAAAADc0/Kvu4nnf90BA/s1600/Petra+-+March+2013-12-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W2fMBR_CPa0/UWNzqIq3BtI/AAAAAAAADc0/Kvu4nnf90BA/s640/Petra+-+March+2013-12-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Almost smiling.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZZGsWNnKQg/UWNzrtpVmLI/AAAAAAAADc8/_3Lp5CgSR1w/s1600/Petra-2013-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jZZGsWNnKQg/UWNzrtpVmLI/AAAAAAAADc8/_3Lp5CgSR1w/s640/Petra-2013-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is her favorite hat, I know because she told me. Also, I'm pretty sure this face means it's her favorite hat.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ywmIngOMP0/UWNzsCcVuSI/AAAAAAAADdE/xr7lqrVNEMI/s1600/Petra-2013-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ywmIngOMP0/UWNzsCcVuSI/AAAAAAAADdE/xr7lqrVNEMI/s640/Petra-2013-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />Again, so close to a smile. Maybe it will happen soon. She's definitely tracking my face a lot more and her mouth is turned up in an almost smile far more often these days.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NS8gB6OrZ70/UWNzvV4cGjI/AAAAAAAADdM/SOeaefmE7sI/s1600/Petra-2013-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NS8gB6OrZ70/UWNzvV4cGjI/AAAAAAAADdM/SOeaefmE7sI/s640/Petra-2013-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-6526072923106951992013-02-26T11:29:00.001-08:002013-02-26T11:29:33.260-08:00Week 42: ReunionIt's been a while since I've posted. Turns out that having to move your life in three weeks will tend to put a damper on photo taking and writing. Well, I'm now a tiny bit more settled into life, until it changes drastically again in one month, so time for some more photos.<br /><br />I decided the theme for the week was going to be reunion. Seems appropriate being back in my hometown and this particular evening was a reunion of sorts, being with folks that I used to play music with. <br /><br />These photos were an interesting challenge. The lighting was pretty terrible for photo taking and the room was very small. I wanted to get more close-up shots, but my 100mm lens was a bit too close, and my 17-50mm lens wouldn't get me close enough. So I was constantly switching lenses depending on what I wanted. It was also pretty much impossible for me to move around and get different angles, so everything was pretty much taken from the same place. I ended up shooting most things at ISO 1600 or even 3200. Really not much light. On with the show...<br /><br />I love this shot. It's technically not very good, but the combination of the looks on Keith and Paul's faces are pretty incredible. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2svBCIXw7U/US0H3h0l5WI/AAAAAAAADTs/VWuw38cbHOA/s1600/Sad+Bastard-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A2svBCIXw7U/US0H3h0l5WI/AAAAAAAADTs/VWuw38cbHOA/s640/Sad+Bastard-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Pretty much the last time I played music with people we had notebooks and printouts of lyrics and chords. How things have changed...laptops, iphones, ipads...a very different experience. I like the dichotomy in this shot, a little bit of the analog with the digital. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3yavVNwJ1Cg/US0H4t_XMpI/AAAAAAAADT0/52_RXhOgIao/s1600/Sad+Bastard-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3yavVNwJ1Cg/US0H4t_XMpI/AAAAAAAADT0/52_RXhOgIao/s640/Sad+Bastard-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I found out that I like taking photos of hands, and I know why. I'm still quite shy taking photos of people, even people I know, so hands are much easier.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnSuL-uSSzU/US0H5tAu4bI/AAAAAAAADT8/XK5NwnBmHh0/s1600/Sad+Bastard-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gnSuL-uSSzU/US0H5tAu4bI/AAAAAAAADT8/XK5NwnBmHh0/s640/Sad+Bastard-1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640" /></a></div><br />I think this is my favorite. Something about the framing and clarity and the bit of light coming from the laptop.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmQV1UuidCo/US0I0YdMTfI/AAAAAAAADUE/f5wDnsyNF6c/s1600/Sad+Bastard-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SmQV1UuidCo/US0I0YdMTfI/AAAAAAAADUE/f5wDnsyNF6c/s640/Sad+Bastard-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Oh look, more hands... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0Bn5IrhaD8/US0I52XSQBI/AAAAAAAADUM/O3Cu_LepQwc/s1600/Sad+Bastard-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F0Bn5IrhaD8/US0I52XSQBI/AAAAAAAADUM/O3Cu_LepQwc/s640/Sad+Bastard-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Wait, you didn't get enough hands, well, here's some more... <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmsx8DeF85I/US0I7m5MP_I/AAAAAAAADUU/BlQvX7TEUAU/s1600/Sad+Bastard-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tmsx8DeF85I/US0I7m5MP_I/AAAAAAAADUU/BlQvX7TEUAU/s640/Sad+Bastard-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Again, not a technically great shot, but I was happy to get a shot of people singing and playing.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aLRUdRzpWiw/US0JYesqlHI/AAAAAAAADUc/htSqqrxEOvE/s1600/Sad+Bastard-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aLRUdRzpWiw/US0JYesqlHI/AAAAAAAADUc/htSqqrxEOvE/s640/Sad+Bastard-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-60148230389711798892013-01-07T08:53:00.002-08:002013-01-07T08:56:13.282-08:00Week 41: Snow<br />Amy and I went back to Madison for the holidays and they were lucky enough to get a ton of snow just before we arrived. I was extremely excited to get some snow photos. Snow can be challenging to photograph. It tends to mess with auto metering in the camera and it can be hard to expose properly with people in the photo. No matter, I was up for the challenge.<br /><br />Gabe and Nathaniel and I went out for some snow disc golfing. It was gorgeous. 15 inches of snow makes golfing difficult, but makes for pretty photos. There's something about this shot that I love. I like the contrast of Gabe's jacket with the snow and the depth in the background. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpK9wB8UFmU/UOr7PJs14TI/AAAAAAAADHQ/IA03ZY9yUA4/s1600/Snow-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tpK9wB8UFmU/UOr7PJs14TI/AAAAAAAADHQ/IA03ZY9yUA4/s640/Snow-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This shot is a lesson in subject. I took a lot of other photos of snow covered trees, but having the golf pin in the corner as my subject made this shot stand out against all of the others.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WK93lgEyXLQ/UOr7QmKfNDI/AAAAAAAADHY/n8Hrcvukr_M/s1600/Snow-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WK93lgEyXLQ/UOr7QmKfNDI/AAAAAAAADHY/n8Hrcvukr_M/s640/Snow-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Amazingly this isn't an HDR shot. The sun was setting and created some really nice colors.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lopjVqGwTQg/UOr7RIHl2jI/AAAAAAAADHc/ES1nbmasY14/s1600/Snow-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lopjVqGwTQg/UOr7RIHl2jI/AAAAAAAADHc/ES1nbmasY14/s640/Snow-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>While I was back in town my mom and I went for a horseback ride in the snow. Horses love to roll in the dirt after a ride and apparently the same holds true when there's snow on the ground. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qBWHKB-hd0/UOr7UWAjZCI/AAAAAAAADH0/XNFkC1stNIs/s1600/Snow-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--qBWHKB-hd0/UOr7UWAjZCI/AAAAAAAADH0/XNFkC1stNIs/s640/Snow-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love the rays of sun coming into the shot as well as the little ice crystals on the horse's eyelashes. Couldn't be happier with this shot.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5clnQChjE2Q/UOr7U2KOpOI/AAAAAAAADH8/ksJuKwqKK4E/s1600/Snow-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5clnQChjE2Q/UOr7U2KOpOI/AAAAAAAADH8/ksJuKwqKK4E/s640/Snow-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />The snow was pretty unreal. It looked so fake. Very flaky and crystallized. Tried to capture some of that with this shot.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9z_CSzYmmOg/UOr7XDtdPRI/AAAAAAAADII/RHFdm1J-27A/s1600/Snow-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9z_CSzYmmOg/UOr7XDtdPRI/AAAAAAAADII/RHFdm1J-27A/s640/Snow-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Easily my favorite shot from the trip. The clouds combined with the sunset created some pretty unreal lines in the sky. The HDR brought out the contrast in the clouds a little more, but the scene was pretty breathtaking in person. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7csuAm97CrM/UOr7SsA-tOI/AAAAAAAADHo/RsqH6VxJL2o/s1600/Snow-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7csuAm97CrM/UOr7SsA-tOI/AAAAAAAADHo/RsqH6VxJL2o/s640/Snow-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-82181114175264388082012-12-17T08:37:00.002-08:002012-12-17T08:37:44.145-08:00Week 40: Kansas City, Take 2Amy and I went to Kansas City for the weekend as a little mini-vacation. We went to the City Market, a couple of museums, some good restaurants, and a blues bar. Every little trip is an opportunity for me to try and get some good photos. This weekend I tried to step out of my comfort zone some more and take more photos of people. It's still really hard for me. I'm still very tentative and shy and try to take photos without people noticing. However, every time I do it it does get easier. Here's hoping that trend continues.<br /><br />These bridge towers are so random, but so interesting. I tried to take a photo in the evening, but there were some lights outside of our hotel that were washing out the window and turning everything pink. I was not happy. This was taken on a very foggy morning. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcZDctbGPJ0/UM9D6MtzLjI/AAAAAAAACwY/-6xYyRoYoZg/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcZDctbGPJ0/UM9D6MtzLjI/AAAAAAAACwY/-6xYyRoYoZg/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Just some birds at the market devouring some corn.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMZsWCeOAYU/UM9D7vA12OI/AAAAAAAACwg/l0zAzZrDLKs/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HMZsWCeOAYU/UM9D7vA12OI/AAAAAAAACwg/l0zAzZrDLKs/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I wish I had been a bit more brave for this photo. The guys working the grill were really energetic and friendly and I think I could have gotten a much better photo if I was willing to get a little closer and not be worried about them seeing me.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsEV02yXuvM/UM9D9HrXdWI/AAAAAAAACwo/PnAVvlFQ4cA/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VsEV02yXuvM/UM9D9HrXdWI/AAAAAAAACwo/PnAVvlFQ4cA/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I really like the depth in this photo.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y8uh1UOELc/UM9D-Jrom1I/AAAAAAAACww/CEq47Gr_2f4/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8y8uh1UOELc/UM9D-Jrom1I/AAAAAAAACww/CEq47Gr_2f4/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I love shooting transactions between people. There's a definite connection in this moment between the buyer and the seller. I love the way he's smiling and looking into the eyes of the person buying the spices.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xdJnffZy0YM/UM9D_rCSc8I/AAAAAAAACw4/vqejDHnZFNM/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xdJnffZy0YM/UM9D_rCSc8I/AAAAAAAACw4/vqejDHnZFNM/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSs4psNVyvw/UM9EA9ssfbI/AAAAAAAACxA/2CoV-IFVahg/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VSs4psNVyvw/UM9EA9ssfbI/AAAAAAAACxA/2CoV-IFVahg/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This woman was also incredibly friendly. I tried to get a lot more photos of her, but I was still feeling pretty shy at this point.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ohwa0KQKPoI/UM9ECC6fRQI/AAAAAAAACxI/EyQt23i3o3I/s1600/Kansas+City+December+2012-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ohwa0KQKPoI/UM9ECC6fRQI/AAAAAAAACxI/EyQt23i3o3I/s640/Kansas+City+December+2012-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-70954957102317330962012-12-14T14:07:00.000-08:002012-12-14T14:07:08.015-08:00Week 39: Geminid Shower<br />Since I've lived in Kansas I've experienced two meteor showers. Each one I've tried to photograph by going out super late at night, when the meteors are at their peak, and each time I've utterly failed to get a photograph of one. The first meteor shower I barely saw any meteors and the second I didn't see a single one.<br /><br />Last night was my third meteor shower, and I had high hopes for this one. Not only was it a new moon, but there were actually two meteor showers happening at once. Leading up to last night I had seen random shooting stars, so I figured my chances were good. <br /><br />I left the house around 12:30 and drove half an hour to a place I knew would be relatively dark and had some interesting things to use as subjects. If there's one thing I've learned about star photography lately is that you need a subject other than the stars. It was a little terrifying being way out in the country, away from most civilization, in the middle of the night, while hearing coyotes in the not-so-distant distance.<br /><br />My first ever official photo of a meteor!!! Not a lot of subject in this photo, but I was just so thrilled to capture a meteor in the shot. It was nice and bright. It was so exciting. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1hsggNL_x4/UMuglOBKvZI/AAAAAAAACss/rIJBK57aKxQ/s1600/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F1hsggNL_x4/UMuglOBKvZI/AAAAAAAACss/rIJBK57aKxQ/s640/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This one is a little darker than I would have liked. I would have liked the truck lit up a tad more, but the light painting that I tried didn't really work out.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qwz5BwtPq9k/UMugmX9gzoI/AAAAAAAACs0/nIYGK-aR1Gk/s1600/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qwz5BwtPq9k/UMugmX9gzoI/AAAAAAAACs0/nIYGK-aR1Gk/s640/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I like this one quite a bit. Not only did a get a meteor in the shot, but I also got the trail of an airplane. The horizon was kind of cloudy this night, so lights from the city were brighter than I would have wanted. Earlier in the evening I was trying to fight it, but at this point I started to embrace the extra light and use it to create silhouettes of the cars I was photographing.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zL-Yo53_zRI/UMugndvKlOI/AAAAAAAACs8/Pc0gDHlFBiE/s1600/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zL-Yo53_zRI/UMugndvKlOI/AAAAAAAACs8/Pc0gDHlFBiE/s640/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Even though it doesn't contain a meteor, this might be my favorite photo. I really like the silhouette of the truck and the way the city lights look like the setting sun.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jCcnerxeJQ/UMugony240I/AAAAAAAACtE/ExCKBcURXFE/s1600/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4jCcnerxeJQ/UMugony240I/AAAAAAAACtE/ExCKBcURXFE/s640/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Probably my favorite photo that includes a meteor. Not only is there a nice silhouette of the truck, but you can kind of see some detail of the front.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mbSJlkVHNPo/UMugp4Zh-6I/AAAAAAAACtM/e8pQfS40_q8/s1600/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mbSJlkVHNPo/UMugp4Zh-6I/AAAAAAAACtM/e8pQfS40_q8/s640/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />No meteor, but I did get another airplane.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kk98zE-xvfw/UMugq7Q9OOI/AAAAAAAACtU/y6ZjkdnveLw/s1600/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kk98zE-xvfw/UMugq7Q9OOI/AAAAAAAACtU/y6ZjkdnveLw/s640/Geminid+Meteor+Shower+2012-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />All in all a very successful night. I was seeing between one and two meteors a minute, but it was still tricky to capture them in a photo. It was a bit cold, but considering it was the middle of December it was quite pleasant. David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-45183079345576189002012-12-03T11:12:00.000-08:002012-12-03T11:12:05.989-08:00Week 38: PortraitsI've never really done portrait work before. I've taken random photos of friends and family, but nothing really official that was an entire photo shoot. This is unfortunate because I really do love taking photos of people. It's challenging for me because I'm fairly shy, but I always love the results.<br /><br />Well, that all changed in the past week, things have kind of exploded. It all started when the director of our office asked me if I wanted to take senior pictures for her son. She knew I hadn't really done any portraits in the past, but he didn't want to make a big deal out of it and didn't want to go into a studio. I very nervously said sure and then proceeded to freak out a bit. I had no idea where to start, or what locations to use, or how to pose someone. I was scheduled to take his photos the week after thanksgiving.<br /><br />While I was home in Madison for thanksgiving my aunt wanted me to take my cousin's senior pictures. It was a last minute thing and I figured it would give me some good practice. It boosted my confidence a lot and made me much more relaxed for my actual paying gig.<br /><br />These are three of my favorite shots with my cousin. We took a lot of shots outside, but it was very cold and cloudy. We moved inside and there wasn't a ton of light, so I plopped her right next to the windows and doors and got some really nice shots with some really nice light.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jvVKYyCDnpQ/ULz2-mgOgjI/AAAAAAAACno/-7gEgyNjHnY/s1600/Kristina+2012-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jvVKYyCDnpQ/ULz2-mgOgjI/AAAAAAAACno/-7gEgyNjHnY/s640/Kristina+2012-10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ji0G6hj3k/ULz3AIfcHxI/AAAAAAAACnw/RGkhM6Af-BQ/s1600/Kristina+2012-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L3ji0G6hj3k/ULz3AIfcHxI/AAAAAAAACnw/RGkhM6Af-BQ/s640/Kristina+2012-8.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLhIhzV0DQc/ULz3bdJOOUI/AAAAAAAACoQ/Ea8CyHD0wPw/s1600/Kristina+2012-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eLhIhzV0DQc/ULz3bdJOOUI/AAAAAAAACoQ/Ea8CyHD0wPw/s640/Kristina+2012-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhwGTLySJzw/ULz3MN7oCDI/AAAAAAAACn4/EZwFodcJV18/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are my three favorite shots with Andre. It was certainly a different experience taking photos of a guy. It's easier to pose a girl and they seem to do things more naturally, but I think we got some really good shots. These don't necessarily look like senior picture shots, but I think that's why I like them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhwGTLySJzw/ULz3MN7oCDI/AAAAAAAACn4/EZwFodcJV18/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhwGTLySJzw/ULz3MN7oCDI/AAAAAAAACn4/EZwFodcJV18/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhwGTLySJzw/ULz3MN7oCDI/AAAAAAAACn4/EZwFodcJV18/s640/Andre+Middendorf-10.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhwGTLySJzw/ULz3MN7oCDI/AAAAAAAACn4/EZwFodcJV18/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yhwGTLySJzw/ULz3MN7oCDI/AAAAAAAACn4/EZwFodcJV18/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHWuUHxpNSY/ULz3OLEGTKI/AAAAAAAACoA/ozZSrpJlmB8/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gHWuUHxpNSY/ULz3OLEGTKI/AAAAAAAACoA/ozZSrpJlmB8/s640/Andre+Middendorf-9.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADq3V_V0aKs/ULz3QVzGCrI/AAAAAAAACoI/bWrcD1ij48Q/s1600/Andre+Middendorf-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ADq3V_V0aKs/ULz3QVzGCrI/AAAAAAAACoI/bWrcD1ij48Q/s640/Andre+Middendorf-15.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMxaVcHxHk8/ULz3hLQBPRI/AAAAAAAACoY/wP_3ujeG2vc/s1600/Scarlett+Sidwell-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These last two are of a co-worker of mine. She was looking for a new photo to give to her mom for christmas. These photos show the importance of lighting and going out when the lighting is good. I was worried because it had been cloudy all day, but the sun came out just when we needed it to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMxaVcHxHk8/ULz3hLQBPRI/AAAAAAAACoY/wP_3ujeG2vc/s1600/Scarlett+Sidwell-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMxaVcHxHk8/ULz3hLQBPRI/AAAAAAAACoY/wP_3ujeG2vc/s1600/Scarlett+Sidwell-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMxaVcHxHk8/ULz3hLQBPRI/AAAAAAAACoY/wP_3ujeG2vc/s640/Scarlett+Sidwell-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GMxaVcHxHk8/ULz3hLQBPRI/AAAAAAAACoY/wP_3ujeG2vc/s1600/Scarlett+Sidwell-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not a shot she's going to give her mom, but I love the background and the little bit of sun in the hair. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWQgwA0sXAg/ULz3ikIAeWI/AAAAAAAACog/AE0lrHupM-8/s1600/Scarlett+Sidwell-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WWQgwA0sXAg/ULz3ikIAeWI/AAAAAAAACog/AE0lrHupM-8/s640/Scarlett+Sidwell-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-64240902900109032532012-11-17T11:22:00.000-08:002012-11-19T07:45:04.643-08:00Week 37: No TrespassingI decided that this week's theme was going to be 'No Trespassing', or more appropriately, how I learned to ignore no trespassing signs. While taking photos this week I learned a couple of things:<br />1 - A fence with a no trespassing sign really means, come in, there's something really cool inside.<br />2 - Dead ends often end with long since forgotten treasures.<br />3 - To find lots of really cool photo opportunities, you need to step outside your comfort zone and take some risks.<br /><br />In a couple of weeks I'm going to be shooting my first senior pictures. I'm a tad terrified, mostly because I have no idea where to go and what to have him do. Today was an attempt to figure out that first part. I had a couple of ideas for locations, but in general I just started driving and keeping my eyes peeled for anything that might be interesting. <br /><br />I found this first location while trying to figure out how to get to the top of the big KS sign in Manhattan. I've always wanted to see the sign up close because I was curious what it was made of. I started driving up this hill and saw a little turnoff with a gate and a no trespassing sign. I probably sat there for five minutes trying to gather up enough nerve to go in. Eventually I sucked it up and went exploring. And the below photo was what I was rewarded with.<br /><br />There was just random furniture and appliances strewn about this clearing at the top of the hill. I especially liked this chair. There's something fascinating about a dilapidated chair sitting out in the middle of a grass field. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsklTdsIJXs/UKfbPxRHV8I/AAAAAAAACXE/LSk-hAdVYBo/s1600/No+Trespassing-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zsklTdsIJXs/UKfbPxRHV8I/AAAAAAAACXE/LSk-hAdVYBo/s640/No+Trespassing-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />At this point I had to do some climbing. I was on part of the hill, but I guessed the KS sign was further up. There were some tricky sections, but eventually I came to the top of the hill and found some sort of radio tower. The fascinating part of the tower were these light-bulbs strung across the whole structure. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k-KEaxir9g/UKfbXiVAILI/AAAAAAAACXM/cP7WAe4ZI9c/s1600/No+Trespassing-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2k-KEaxir9g/UKfbXiVAILI/AAAAAAAACXM/cP7WAe4ZI9c/s640/No+Trespassing-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Then what do I find, more no trespassing signs. This one I decided to obey.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efl5jN8KwA8/UKfbgezaKhI/AAAAAAAACXU/cqEYLw8oVIY/s1600/No+Trespassing-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-efl5jN8KwA8/UKfbgezaKhI/AAAAAAAACXU/cqEYLw8oVIY/s640/No+Trespassing-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />I couldn't get a good picture of it, but I did eventually find the giant KS sign. If anyone was curious it's carved out of the rock on the side of the hill and painted white. Not as exciting as I had hoped.<br /><br />After climbing down the hill I started driving into the country. After a couple of random turns I came across a dead end sign and decided to see what was at the end. Sure enough, another fence and another no trespassing sign. Not to be deterred, I climbed around the fence and set off to explore. I should note that every place I went today looked fairly abandoned, so I felt somewhat confident that I wasn't going to run into anyone.<br /><br />After trudging through some forested areas I came across another clearing and an abandoned piece of farm equipment. I really love old abandoned equipment. The rust and the grease makes for some great color and contrast in photos.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDWf0wgIDpY/UKfbqhsRMHI/AAAAAAAACXc/E_MvBorA42k/s1600/No+Trespassing-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YDWf0wgIDpY/UKfbqhsRMHI/AAAAAAAACXc/E_MvBorA42k/s640/No+Trespassing-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Driving again, I came across these culverts and liked the way they were stacked and the patterns they made.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZEeI_LyVAI/UKfbziG7uwI/AAAAAAAACXk/vIPIGp5ntVg/s1600/No+Trespassing-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aZEeI_LyVAI/UKfbziG7uwI/AAAAAAAACXk/vIPIGp5ntVg/s640/No+Trespassing-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This location was incredible and I have to go back because I only explored a tiny bit of it. I was nervous going to this one. I spotted all of these abandoned cars and random equipment across a field, from the road. In the photo below you can kind of see my car in the lower right. I knew I would be very visible crossing the field, but decided it would be worth it.<br /><br />The first thing I came across were a couple of semis with lots of random old toys, clothes, and any other trash you can think of. A lot of it was strewn across the ground and I half expected to find a dead body mixed in with everything. Note to self, if I ever need to dump a body, this is the place.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W7XhWdKuzps/UKfcBIrMaUI/AAAAAAAACXs/tpN_RJUvJUA/s1600/No+Trespassing-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-W7XhWdKuzps/UKfcBIrMaUI/AAAAAAAACXs/tpN_RJUvJUA/s640/No+Trespassing-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Hanging out of one of the doors of the semi was this old rotting doll, partially crushed by a box. This is quite possible my favorite picture from the bunch. It took me a couple of tries to get the shot that I wanted. Originally I was trying to get its face in the shot, but it just wasn't working, and I actually like this angle much better.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu7OcT41fGk/UKfcIzCB2UI/AAAAAAAACX0/u1rh89qjrYY/s1600/No+Trespassing-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu7OcT41fGk/UKfcIzCB2UI/AAAAAAAACX0/u1rh89qjrYY/s640/No+Trespassing-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />One of many abandoned vehicles left in this field.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-usUg2vNm0/UKfcSQiupEI/AAAAAAAACX8/0A4TuKqgUiM/s1600/No+Trespassing-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o-usUg2vNm0/UKfcSQiupEI/AAAAAAAACX8/0A4TuKqgUiM/s640/No+Trespassing-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Wanted to add one more to this post that I took the day after writing this.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZtC3HfycDM/UKpTLdkjVoI/AAAAAAAACbw/hyl9UlfBU-I/s1600/No+Trespassing+Kylinn-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AZtC3HfycDM/UKpTLdkjVoI/AAAAAAAACbw/hyl9UlfBU-I/s640/No+Trespassing+Kylinn-15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-21342516462263132122012-11-05T09:53:00.000-08:002012-11-05T09:56:49.230-08:00Week 36: Candid StrangersI went to a wedding this past weekend in Michigan. I was hoping to get some good photos, but it just wasn't working. The area we were in wasn't great for photos and the weather was dreary and there were no leaves on the trees. Just not very good all around.<br /><br />I decided I need to try something new. I've always wanted to do street photography and take candid photos of strangers. The only problem is, this terrifies me. I'm a pretty shy person, and I find it really hard to take photos of friends, let alone strangers. But I decided I needed to get over this fear and just do it. So, in the Flint airport on the way home, I decided to give it a shot.<br /><br />I was still pretty cautious and mostly took photos of people I knew probably couldn't see me, but I still learned a ton. When I do landscape photography I've learned that every photo needs a subject. You can't just have a beautiful landscape and call that your subject. There has to be something else that draws you into the photo and then the landscape is what makes it beautiful. I'm realizing the same thing with street photography. The person you're taking the photo of isn't the subject, you need something more, an emotion, an interaction with another person...something (still trying to figure out what that something is).<br /><br />When you take photos of your friends I think it's easy to get lazy. You treat them as your subject and people like the photos because they know the people. But show the photos to a stranger and they're probably not interesting at all. Taking photos of strangers forces you to take that extra step to make your photos interesting and tell a story. I think coming to that realization will make my photos much better in the future. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i2fAH1v6C2M/UJf5mGeOcGI/AAAAAAAACUg/y7KsVuhL0Xs/s1600/Michigan-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i2fAH1v6C2M/UJf5mGeOcGI/AAAAAAAACUg/y7KsVuhL0Xs/s640/Michigan-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This was the ballsiest photo I took, he was sitting at a table right across from me and could have looked over at any second. It was kind of exhilarating.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc2hevtzITE/UJf5siExhQI/AAAAAAAACUo/mLLoTzyzLGE/s1600/Michigan-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Pc2hevtzITE/UJf5siExhQI/AAAAAAAACUo/mLLoTzyzLGE/s640/Michigan-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This lady just looks kind of bored. Something else is needed to make this photo interesting.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEn9gJaAiAU/UJf5yxPH9oI/AAAAAAAACUw/mxkEIgmeO5Y/s1600/Michigan-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEn9gJaAiAU/UJf5yxPH9oI/AAAAAAAACUw/mxkEIgmeO5Y/s640/Michigan-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I really liked the sun in this one and the color of her hair. Still not really a subject though.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fcAKxh1q9v4/UJf57kuue3I/AAAAAAAACU4/vlXewqYa0xg/s1600/Michigan-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fcAKxh1q9v4/UJf57kuue3I/AAAAAAAACU4/vlXewqYa0xg/s640/Michigan-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I think that this one is halfway to being a good photo. This guy is interacting with the bartender, but the guy seated at the bar is blocking her. I think if I was able to get her in the photo as well it would have been much more interesting.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lz9y06aSAVs/UJf6DyuZjJI/AAAAAAAACVA/FUWyaDMZapo/s1600/Michigan-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lz9y06aSAVs/UJf6DyuZjJI/AAAAAAAACVA/FUWyaDMZapo/s640/Michigan-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is my favorite. This guy was pretty photogenic and I managed to catch him in a smile. I really love candid shots of smiling people. People usually look so miserable, especially in airports, that it's nice to see a smile every now and then.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNVRMQFfyYE/UJf6Mts61QI/AAAAAAAACVI/s4bA1-8gYtc/s1600/Michigan-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hNVRMQFfyYE/UJf6Mts61QI/AAAAAAAACVI/s4bA1-8gYtc/s640/Michigan-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is a random shot from the wedding I was at. The ceremony was outside, but the reception was held in this heated barn. Pretty nice. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0FWk8P2CPo/UJf5gwYnsxI/AAAAAAAACUY/TJix9pMSzTM/s1600/Michigan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x0FWk8P2CPo/UJf5gwYnsxI/AAAAAAAACUY/TJix9pMSzTM/s640/Michigan-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-19426845759181586002012-10-22T09:29:00.000-07:002012-10-22T09:29:56.977-07:00Week 35: Meteor ShowerThis weekend was the Orionid meteor shower. I was pretty excited for it and thought it would be a great opportunity to try and get some star photos with meteors streaking through. Back in August I was out in Colorado for another meteor shower and was pretty disappointed by the lack of meteors. I had high hopes for this one. It was supposed to peak between 4am and dawn on Sunday morning with meteors once every minute.<br /><br />Bound and determined I got myself up and out of the house around 2:30. The shower was supposed to originate from Orion's belt, so I picked some places that would have a good view of Orion and some interesting scenery. I was out until about 4am and didn't see a single meteor, boo. But there were an incredible amount of stars out, so I figured I would take advantage. Here's what I came away with. Only four shots this week, but better than nothing and I'm pretty happy with the four shots.<br /><br />&nbsp;I started out at the prairie thinking that scenery would make a nice backdrop with the stars. I was wrong. The shots just weren't working. I got some good stars, but there was really no subject, just boring trees and land. Undeterred, I had an idea. I've taken some shots out at a random cemetery out in the country and thought I could get some good shots there. So I packed up and tried to find an unmarked cemetery, in the dark, at 3:30am. After driving past it 4 times, I finally found it.<br /><br />This first photo is more for the creepiness factor. Nothing like hanging out in the middle of a cemetery, in the middle of the night, with a bloody Jesus. I liked the composition of this one, but would have preferred if that tree wasn't there on the right. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0sG6Q1fLRs/UIVxmhHfwCI/AAAAAAAACR0/yQNaknQOMQY/s1600/Stars-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z0sG6Q1fLRs/UIVxmhHfwCI/AAAAAAAACR0/yQNaknQOMQY/s640/Stars-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I was quite happy with how this turned out. The hard thing about night photography is trying to frame things when you can't really see anything through the viewfinder. Luckily I had my headlamp with me, so I was able to use that to light of the sign, get it all framed, then turn it off and take the photo.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZryqBx1Z1Mo/UIVxoL_Mi0I/AAAAAAAACR8/KOpwQapIW7Q/s1600/Stars-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZryqBx1Z1Mo/UIVxoL_Mi0I/AAAAAAAACR8/KOpwQapIW7Q/s640/Stars-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is easily my favorite of the bunch. I love the framing and composition and the fact that I was able to get a hint of the disk of the Milky Way. Plus the church looks kind of castley, which gives the whole shot a very old European look. If I have the patience I might re-visit this location and use it for some time-lapse shots. Could be very cool.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EoGoOBZe_zc/UIVxpo998fI/AAAAAAAACSE/pAlufcqcRGY/s1600/Stars-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EoGoOBZe_zc/UIVxpo998fI/AAAAAAAACSE/pAlufcqcRGY/s640/Stars-4.jpg" width="640" /> </a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one has nothing to do with the previous shots, but it's one I took the weekend before and really liked. I really like HDR when it captures what you see in real life. This was an instance where I just couldn't get the depth and range of color in a single shot, the way I saw it with my eye. Taking three shots and combining them really allowed me to capture things the way I saw it. And it doesn't hurt that the colors were beautiful out at the prairie to begin with.&nbsp; </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H__NBJGNKuQ/UIVx1C_FJPI/AAAAAAAACSM/IFnuI-OHdxQ/s1600/Konza-7_8_9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H__NBJGNKuQ/UIVx1C_FJPI/AAAAAAAACSM/IFnuI-OHdxQ/s640/Konza-7_8_9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-16104989084927157062012-10-11T21:32:00.001-07:002012-10-12T09:00:56.363-07:00Week 34: Twin CitiesThis past weekend I was in Minneapolis to run the Twin Cities Marathon. Unfortunately the one time I wish I had had my camera I didn't bring it with. That's always the way it goes. I would have liked to get more photos on Sunday after the race, but I was a bit tired and kind of ran out of time to do anything. So not many pictures this week, but better than nothing. <br /><br />This first photo is from my friend Becky's apartment. Cheeky monkey.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buYQebm8bO4/UHebOVGx5uI/AAAAAAAACOY/ukJWR4ue6RE/s1600/Twin+Cities-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-buYQebm8bO4/UHebOVGx5uI/AAAAAAAACOY/ukJWR4ue6RE/s640/Twin+Cities-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Post-race beers chilling on the window-sill in the hotel.&nbsp; Didn't work so well. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDl7yAxcMT0/UHebW79SfMI/AAAAAAAACOg/yu62dAQ6o0E/s1600/Twin+Cities-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xDl7yAxcMT0/UHebW79SfMI/AAAAAAAACOg/yu62dAQ6o0E/s640/Twin+Cities-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Nighttime view outside of the hotel window.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5UYxxuJpPY/UHebfonxIaI/AAAAAAAACOo/PIzZ_Ptg5o8/s1600/Twin+Cities-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U5UYxxuJpPY/UHebfonxIaI/AAAAAAAACOo/PIzZ_Ptg5o8/s640/Twin+Cities-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Long-exposure shot from a bridge over the highway. I'm pretty sure we ran past that cathedral during the race.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nu4Y6PKKdOk/UHeboTTgAsI/AAAAAAAACOw/WpTmwTP2PRE/s1600/Twin+Cities-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nu4Y6PKKdOk/UHeboTTgAsI/AAAAAAAACOw/WpTmwTP2PRE/s640/Twin+Cities-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />HDR shot outside of the hotel window.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zUt1Y5sLLw/UHeb2hgiulI/AAAAAAAACO4/E81Gke38hvI/s1600/Twin+Cities-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3zUt1Y5sLLw/UHeb2hgiulI/AAAAAAAACO4/E81Gke38hvI/s640/Twin+Cities-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-63883704563156210432012-09-08T18:48:00.002-07:002012-09-08T18:48:53.998-07:00Week 33: ReflectionsI was excited about this theme this week. It was my first time in a while really taking a theme and working with it, instead of working my photos into a theme I determined after taking the shots. It was nice, in a way. Having a specific them forces you to look at things differently. You're not just looking for anything that could be a good photo, you're looking for specific things. It's somewhat limiting, but forces you to grow creatively. Unfortunately I found this week kind of a bust. I'm not really happy with any of the photos and I had a hard time finding things that I found interesting. Not sure if it was the theme, or if it was me. I also had a few ideas that I thought were going to be interesting that totally failed. I really wanted to try to take some photos of reflections in a camera lens, but they all just turned out bad. I don't think my problem was finding good sources of reflection, I think it was finding interesting subjects within those reflections. Finding subjects seems to be a continuous struggle for me. <br /><br />This was a shot that at least forced me to move around a bit to get what I wanted. I took some other shots of a tree reflected in this water and it wasn't working. Then I decided to move around until I got the sun to nicely reflect. I do enjoy when I have an idea that I can actually execute. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--4h8WZu59tg/UEvwqx6yXNI/AAAAAAAACMQ/z_30Zkgi6cg/s1600/Reflections-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--4h8WZu59tg/UEvwqx6yXNI/AAAAAAAACMQ/z_30Zkgi6cg/s640/Reflections-11.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Not thrilled with this photo. It's the center of a sign light. There was a lot of reflective chrome, but it didn't really reflect anything. I tried moving around to get something, but it was just kind of muddy. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olsm_9W9DF8/UEvwz9Sv2OI/AAAAAAAACMY/MSl7yCAtJNY/s1600/Reflections-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-olsm_9W9DF8/UEvwz9Sv2OI/AAAAAAAACMY/MSl7yCAtJNY/s640/Reflections-28.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I can't decide if I like this shot or not. I like the contrast and the texture caused by the wet pavement, but I don't find anything about it particularly interesting. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqMLKc2chx4/UEvw8seiq4I/AAAAAAAACMg/mcA89EAoGqU/s1600/Reflections-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lqMLKc2chx4/UEvw8seiq4I/AAAAAAAACMg/mcA89EAoGqU/s640/Reflections-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Not much to say about this one, kind of boring. Just a reflection of my legs in a glass door. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6twoFOUO7kc/UEvxF1ktGSI/AAAAAAAACMo/ioIL--CqL6U/s1600/Reflections-37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6twoFOUO7kc/UEvxF1ktGSI/AAAAAAAACMo/ioIL--CqL6U/s640/Reflections-37.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This one I kind of enjoy. It was another one that I knew exactly what I wanted and worked until I got it. This was shot through a window and I managed to get equal focus with what was reflecting in the window and what was inside the building. I really love the composition and how it's really hard to tell exactly what you're looking at. The inside and the outside images blend really nicely together. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56SjXo1f624/UEvxNa0GMvI/AAAAAAAACMw/imZrgLVuN1M/s1600/Reflections-42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56SjXo1f624/UEvxNa0GMvI/AAAAAAAACMw/imZrgLVuN1M/s640/Reflections-42.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />There was just something about the texture of this light, with some condensation under it, that I liked.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_3hyDXugqY/UEvxVFrjHKI/AAAAAAAACM4/68qLdRup1B4/s1600/Reflections-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j_3hyDXugqY/UEvxVFrjHKI/AAAAAAAACM4/68qLdRup1B4/s640/Reflections-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This was one of the few water reflection shots that I liked. It sort of looks like the tree has been partially erased. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hFD5yb6dqU/UEvxdwvRN5I/AAAAAAAACNA/z3QOCO_VUD8/s1600/Reflections-60.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1hFD5yb6dqU/UEvxdwvRN5I/AAAAAAAACNA/z3QOCO_VUD8/s640/Reflections-60.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Not quite sure how I feel about this one. Again, I think it would be better if I could find something more interesting reflected in the mirror.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHPjrsHGEKY/UEvxlIUvgDI/AAAAAAAACNI/j2jwyrPzRZ4/s1600/Reflections-62.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHPjrsHGEKY/UEvxlIUvgDI/AAAAAAAACNI/j2jwyrPzRZ4/s640/Reflections-62.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-16168576589339841692012-09-02T09:09:00.000-07:002012-09-02T09:09:17.684-07:00Week 32: Time-lapseI decided to do something a little different this week. I have always loved doing time-lapse photography. It's like long exposure photography to the extreme. You really don't know what you're going to get until you've edited all of the photos together and created a video. It's funny, I'm usually not a patient person. I barely have the patience to take a 30 second exposure and see what I get. And yet, I'm somehow able to have the patience for time-lapse. Don't get me wrong, it's difficult. I often have to sit out with my camera for over an hour to get a shot. And then you get back to editing and find out the shot just didn't work. But the payoff makes it worth it. Being able to see motion that's usually imperceptible to the human eye.<br /><br />I've done some time-lapse in the past, but it was usually just single shorter events. I never really had the drive or the patience to get enough shots that I could piece together into a full-length clip. This week was my attempt to finally do that. I've mixed some old shots with a fair amount of new shots to get a video that was long enough, and overall I'm quite happy with it. It could certainly be better, but that's for future videos :-)<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="393" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/48676682" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="700"></iframe> <br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/48676682">The Universe Within</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user3442214">David Hilgendorf</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-53977863546040096642012-08-26T16:13:00.002-07:002012-08-26T16:13:29.562-07:00Week 31: UtilityI've been lazy with this blog lately and have kind of abandoned themes and stuck with them for a week. This week is my attempt to at least half get back into that. I didn't exactly have a theme for this week, but I definitely knew what I wanted to take pictures of and I knew the general feel I wanted most of the photos to have.<br /><br />There are some pretty interesting things in the basement of the place that I work. I've always been a little tentative to go into those places since I probably shouldn't be there, and there was always the potential that I could run into someone. Well, I had to go into work this weekend and figured it would be a good time to explore the bowels of my office. What follows is what I found.<br /><br />This shot was taken in the air conditioning and furnace control room. I knew I wanted to do an HDR of this as soon as I saw it. Machinery and grease always make for good HDR subjects.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1H8aLyzGV8/UDqpZl9MEnI/AAAAAAAACI8/NdhJuXo16n4/s1600/Utility-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o1H8aLyzGV8/UDqpZl9MEnI/AAAAAAAACI8/NdhJuXo16n4/s640/Utility-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is the motor that controls the ancient elevator in our office. I swear I'm going to die in that thing one of these days. I tried a lot of different shots of this before I got what I liked. I originally tried using just the available light with a long shutter speed, but the windows kept getting really washed out. So I picked a shutter speed that exposed the windows the way I liked them and then used my flash to fill in the motor.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq_zlsjyGVE/UDqpdYfWnSI/AAAAAAAACJE/NgxmNeBtQ9A/s1600/Utility-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq_zlsjyGVE/UDqpdYfWnSI/AAAAAAAACJE/NgxmNeBtQ9A/s640/Utility-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Just a couple of random electrical components sitting on a window sill. I really liked the light coming in through the glass block window.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmWJhNeXz28/UDqplMgqmtI/AAAAAAAACJM/K0AP-_GHpcM/s1600/Utility-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmWJhNeXz28/UDqplMgqmtI/AAAAAAAACJM/K0AP-_GHpcM/s640/Utility-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />I couldn't really get a good shot that I liked of this. I think because the subject just isn't all that interesting. All of that said, I think I finally found a lighting technique that worked for what I was going for. I tried putting my flash in about 8 different configurations before wedging it between some pipes in the ceiling and firing it straight down.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVwMYRSqOO4/UDqpqWnY84I/AAAAAAAACJU/WrJQ9207bno/s1600/Utility-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yVwMYRSqOO4/UDqpqWnY84I/AAAAAAAACJU/WrJQ9207bno/s640/Utility-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft1OMGIqZwA/UDqpycIRPtI/AAAAAAAACJc/iUVM3quoUsI/s1600/Utility-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft1OMGIqZwA/UDqpycIRPtI/AAAAAAAACJc/iUVM3quoUsI/s640/Utility-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This one didn't work out quite how I would have liked. With the available light there, was a really nice tiny amount of light illuminating the railing and part of this boiler. Unfortunately I couldn't really get it exposed the way I wanted, so I decided to try and HDR shot. In general I like it, but it's not what I was hoping for.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qsVFFOv0roU/UDqp748j_aI/AAAAAAAACJk/jRQ5vX50aeg/s1600/Utility-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qsVFFOv0roU/UDqp748j_aI/AAAAAAAACJk/jRQ5vX50aeg/s640/Utility-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iY8eHpLOetk/UDqqG7QDLsI/AAAAAAAACJs/PYVAh0M3BMc/s1600/Utility-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iY8eHpLOetk/UDqqG7QDLsI/AAAAAAAACJs/PYVAh0M3BMc/s640/Utility-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-56450287691553338972012-07-11T21:20:00.002-07:002012-07-12T07:34:00.514-07:00Week 30: MiscI'm fairly disappointed with the photos this week. I don't think they're particularly bad, but they're just uninspired. Oh well, it's always good to get out and practice. The good thing is that I knew they weren't going to be great as I was taking them. So, I guess recognizing is something...<br /><br />This one made the cut solely because it's a peacock out in the wild. I've never seen one out in the wild before. To be fair, I think it came from a farm nearby and might have escaped, since I saw four other peacocks fenced in on that farm. Ah well, I can hope and pretend that it's a wild peacock in Kansas. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUGKuiYwZ2o/T_5Pb_mmxVI/AAAAAAAAB_4/QBdkkT1t96k/s1600/Misc-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SUGKuiYwZ2o/T_5Pb_mmxVI/AAAAAAAAB_4/QBdkkT1t96k/s640/Misc-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I feel bad posting photos of flowers, just seems like kind of an easy out. Flowers are almost always beautiful and it doesn't take much skill to take a decent photo of one. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tukcKazkyMQ/T_5PjEwlIGI/AAAAAAAACAA/iiVelOSa_zw/s1600/Misc-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tukcKazkyMQ/T_5PjEwlIGI/AAAAAAAACAA/iiVelOSa_zw/s640/Misc-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I really quite like this one. I'm realizing that I love the effect of shooting right into the setting sun. I have to make sure I don't do it too much, otherwise all of my photos will start looking the same. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MR24wVrLo2c/T_5PrRXaLjI/AAAAAAAACAI/UXWDgnKJqiI/s1600/Misc-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MR24wVrLo2c/T_5PrRXaLjI/AAAAAAAACAI/UXWDgnKJqiI/s640/Misc-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Something about this one is just off. I feel like it should be decent, and the colors on the boat are great, but something about it just didn't turn out. I blame it on the HDR and the bad processing that makes the sky different colors. Or maybe just too much clutter in the background. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOrovrAzr_o/T_5P4Aox-DI/AAAAAAAACAQ/nKXhgIOHkqM/s1600/Misc-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HOrovrAzr_o/T_5P4Aox-DI/AAAAAAAACAQ/nKXhgIOHkqM/s640/Misc-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This was a shot I took of an old tractor. I really like it, but feel like it's missing just a tiny bit of color. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6LrNyFHRIg/T_5P-2K7kGI/AAAAAAAACAY/VGolj9EbcDQ/s1600/Misc-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J6LrNyFHRIg/T_5P-2K7kGI/AAAAAAAACAY/VGolj9EbcDQ/s640/Misc-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>For this shot I was able to capture what I had in my head, but it seems a little out of place with the rest of the collection. I have lots of warm light photos, and then this black and white. I think it would be better standing on its own. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oryUi95eoLM/T_5QEJsyAcI/AAAAAAAACAg/8el8pgqUv_k/s1600/Misc-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oryUi95eoLM/T_5QEJsyAcI/AAAAAAAACAg/8el8pgqUv_k/s640/Misc-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This one is just kind of...meh. I wanted to capture the sun reflecting off the water and needed a subject in there. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IrlfA-2xRM/T_5QKk6vY-I/AAAAAAAACAo/P9M0lBEjELc/s1600/Misc-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2IrlfA-2xRM/T_5QKk6vY-I/AAAAAAAACAo/P9M0lBEjELc/s640/Misc-7.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-19302507178238979542012-07-04T15:14:00.002-07:002012-07-04T15:15:51.600-07:00Week 29: HotIt's been hot this week, it was hot last week, it's going to be hot next week, and probably the rest of the summer. What better theme to have for this week. I decided to fully embrace the heat and go out on a photo walk in the middle of the afternoon, when it's hottest. Last week I used the nice setting light to create a series of really nice soft warm photos. This week I wanted to do the opposite and use the harsh afternoon light to try and aid in the oppressive feeling of the heat. <br /><br />There's something about cracked pavement and weeds growing through that just scream heat to me. Maybe it's because back in Madison you knew it was hot when the pavement started buckling. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dqE5A4P7_rI/T_S9gmsZHsI/AAAAAAAAB-c/TqNE0jFFAXM/s1600/Hot-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dqE5A4P7_rI/T_S9gmsZHsI/AAAAAAAAB-c/TqNE0jFFAXM/s640/Hot-1.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />A little bit of the sun peeking into the corner...a streetlight in the middle of a parking lot..there's nothing quite hotter than an asphalt parking lot in summer. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e8L5Zl0_7qc/T_S9nUzqgfI/AAAAAAAAB-k/J3eeX6drDzU/s1600/Hot-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e8L5Zl0_7qc/T_S9nUzqgfI/AAAAAAAAB-k/J3eeX6drDzU/s640/Hot-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br />Proof that it was just a little bit hot when I was out walking. Not the worst temperatures we've ever seen, by far, but not exactly pleasant.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--e4-xcUmKbA/T_S9yQyfiSI/AAAAAAAAB-s/uCKi0foZJpQ/s1600/Hot-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--e4-xcUmKbA/T_S9yQyfiSI/AAAAAAAAB-s/uCKi0foZJpQ/s640/Hot-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This is going away from theme a bit, but this valve does bring gas into an apartment complex, which heats water...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NY3Wxxn5S1c/T_S97BySsEI/AAAAAAAAB-0/4QrcGKijCBo/s1600/Hot-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NY3Wxxn5S1c/T_S97BySsEI/AAAAAAAAB-0/4QrcGKijCBo/s640/Hot-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />For some reason construction barrels always signal heat to me.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1KSd_dr9Fc/T_S-DmdbcYI/AAAAAAAAB-8/-qA12huVXOw/s1600/Hot-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1KSd_dr9Fc/T_S-DmdbcYI/AAAAAAAAB-8/-qA12huVXOw/s640/Hot-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As a kid, I remember the thigh-searing pain of trying to use these types of swings in summer.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwIAXOWgi4w/T_S-L9w0UPI/AAAAAAAAB_E/xujqUgVbSWk/s1600/Hot-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jwIAXOWgi4w/T_S-L9w0UPI/AAAAAAAAB_E/xujqUgVbSWk/s640/Hot-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Literal heat.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8_NqAqhBz_E/T_S-WG7l9mI/AAAAAAAAB_M/XxTYTTfAkBI/s1600/Hot-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8_NqAqhBz_E/T_S-WG7l9mI/AAAAAAAAB_M/XxTYTTfAkBI/s640/Hot-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-1754805124800393882012-06-26T20:01:00.002-07:002012-07-04T15:03:14.567-07:00Week 28: CountryThis week comes hot on the heels of last week. It's been hard to find inspiration lately, so I finally decided to just get outside and do some exploring. I knew there was an old church out in the country that I found while biking, and figured that was a good place to start. I came to a revelation while taking these photos, turns out lighting is really important. Who knew? I went out right around 7pm, so the sun was nice and low and was showering everything in a nice golden light. I've always knows that this is the best time to take photos, along with sunrise, but I don't think I quite realized how important it was, until I realized that 7 of the 8 of these photos would be crap without the nice lighting. So, without further ado, on with the show.<br /><br />Grass, wind, and nice sunlight always makes a great photo. It's so simple, but can be so beautiful. There's something ethereal about the way it moves and I'm always surprised by the way it can be captured on film. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7sYUBQw4RE/T-p19Au90II/AAAAAAAAB7k/acXzhMzXRf4/s1600/Country-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-u7sYUBQw4RE/T-p19Au90II/AAAAAAAAB7k/acXzhMzXRf4/s640/Country-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>This is a statue of Jesus surrounded by three other statues. Not really up to date on my religion to know who they are, sorry. There was nothing inherently creepy with the statues the way they were, but I'm very happy to have pulled off something extremely creepy with this photo. I wonder why creepy is my go-to stance when taking photos of statues?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wol-KlPGgEU/T-p2CpjS2sI/AAAAAAAAB7s/bi_ifN4ezuY/s1600/Country-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wol-KlPGgEU/T-p2CpjS2sI/AAAAAAAAB7s/bi_ifN4ezuY/s640/Country-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Just a rusty nail sitting on some concrete. I really didn't expect this one to be that interesting, but there's something about the textures combined with the lighting and the slim sliver of focus. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CtlbEpCW8PY/T-p2I-CwXvI/AAAAAAAAB70/NnUpu1HSjkU/s1600/Country-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CtlbEpCW8PY/T-p2I-CwXvI/AAAAAAAAB70/NnUpu1HSjkU/s640/Country-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I like to take pictures of the moon, but it always turns out so small and meaningless. Or you have to use a huge zoom, and then you just have the moon, with no other subject. This is the first time I've been able to photograph the moon with another subject and actually be happy with the outcome. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Le5Oj371v4/T-p2MwaqWJI/AAAAAAAAB78/vLdG5oKe_Js/s1600/Country-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Le5Oj371v4/T-p2MwaqWJI/AAAAAAAAB78/vLdG5oKe_Js/s640/Country-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Cicada husks. I loved how the light was coming in from the back and shining through the husks. I allowed the lens to flare a bit and the focus to wander and I think it all adds to the airy beauty of it all. I have another couple of crisper photos of this, but they just didn't have the same impact. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pIqGPVDynKY/T-p2RqNBgNI/AAAAAAAAB8E/HZCYk-EbJz4/s1600/Country-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pIqGPVDynKY/T-p2RqNBgNI/AAAAAAAAB8E/HZCYk-EbJz4/s640/Country-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>HDR time. I love love love abandoned buildings and this one was fairly fascinating. It was just a house off the road surrounded by overgrown bushes and trees. How does a house get to this point? How old was the house? Without HDR this photo definitely lacks a certain amount of pop. But I think I managed to get it without it looking too over-processed. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--h9hfDJpLUk/T-p2eqVXb-I/AAAAAAAAB8M/PfI_TpnCcYE/s1600/Country-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--h9hfDJpLUk/T-p2eqVXb-I/AAAAAAAAB8M/PfI_TpnCcYE/s640/Country-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I staged this photo a tiny bit. I found this old rusted oil can laying on the floor and propped it up in the window with the sun coming through the trees behind it. It took me about 8 different shots to finally get what I wanted, but I'm really happy with the final shot. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-22sDO_g2Z5Y/T-p2kikuEuI/AAAAAAAAB8U/WS85bArMCCU/s1600/Country-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-22sDO_g2Z5Y/T-p2kikuEuI/AAAAAAAAB8U/WS85bArMCCU/s640/Country-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>One last HDR of the outside of the house. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR2xcK9NoQI/T-p21WAZzMI/AAAAAAAAB8c/QcGNtoQD7fw/s1600/Country-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jR2xcK9NoQI/T-p21WAZzMI/AAAAAAAAB8c/QcGNtoQD7fw/s640/Country-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-45613600896784088352012-06-24T13:02:00.000-07:002012-07-04T15:03:27.323-07:00Week 27: Kansas CityFor our 9 year anniversary, Amy and I decided to head to Kansas City and go to a free art museum. The museum was pretty amazing and we only saw a fraction of it because of time constraints, but I'm sure we'll go back. It's kind of weird taking photos of art, but I guess it's just like any other subject. <br /><br />This was a really interesting house outside of the museum. I just really wish the railing wasn't smack in the middle of the shot. Not much I can do about it. I suppose I could try and photoshop it out, but that would be a lot of work. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kCcRborPQGA/T-duHCkE7uI/AAAAAAAAB58/DIj_gfVGDlE/s1600/Kansas+City-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kCcRborPQGA/T-duHCkE7uI/AAAAAAAAB58/DIj_gfVGDlE/s640/Kansas+City-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;This was an exhibit inside of the museum. It was a giant egg made up of random stainless steel cooking items. I purposely had the white balance way off, thinking I would fix it in post, but I really liked the warm tint to the light, so I kept it. Hooray for happy accidents. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2jQK0fZnWA/T-duQYu6FXI/AAAAAAAAB6E/Qm9OANqDjdM/s1600/Kansas+City-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B2jQK0fZnWA/T-duQYu6FXI/AAAAAAAAB6E/Qm9OANqDjdM/s640/Kansas+City-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;There's definitely a sadness to this one that I don't remember when just looking at these statues in person. Maybe I just didn't look close enough. All of their eyes are closed, but I still feel like they're somehow staring at me. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ILPZbOwdLw/T-duWyNcHwI/AAAAAAAAB6M/4RL6flmBQw4/s1600/Kansas+City-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ILPZbOwdLw/T-duWyNcHwI/AAAAAAAAB6M/4RL6flmBQw4/s640/Kansas+City-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I found this statue creepy. It just stared right at me, so I figured I'd embrace it and stare right back. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idfxrrF1DR0/T-dufqGm4AI/AAAAAAAAB6U/H5NXqUzrg1U/s1600/Kansas+City-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idfxrrF1DR0/T-dufqGm4AI/AAAAAAAAB6U/H5NXqUzrg1U/s640/Kansas+City-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;I couldn't get a good shot of this sculpture. The only lens I brought with me was 100mm and I couldn't get far enough away to get the whole sculpture. Even so, there was so much going on that it was hard to find a focal point. I have many different shots, but I tried to line this one up with the tree in the background to give some sort of man vs nature symbolism. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2qhnPyAkws/T-dutEzdJwI/AAAAAAAAB6c/u7mFCNzn-VY/s1600/Kansas+City-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w2qhnPyAkws/T-dutEzdJwI/AAAAAAAAB6c/u7mFCNzn-VY/s640/Kansas+City-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Zyf9yxpkM4/T-du2ua3C8I/AAAAAAAAB6k/CfZeLFHpWYk/s1600/Kansas+City-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_Zyf9yxpkM4/T-du2ua3C8I/AAAAAAAAB6k/CfZeLFHpWYk/s640/Kansas+City-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>&nbsp;Sunset on the drive home. Not bad considering I took the shot through the window of the car while moving. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cN1tEa85mec/T-du5XRiURI/AAAAAAAAB6s/uShpabFS200/s1600/Kansas+City-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cN1tEa85mec/T-du5XRiURI/AAAAAAAAB6s/uShpabFS200/s640/Kansas+City-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-79417495410446409102012-06-02T00:07:00.001-07:002012-07-04T15:03:36.403-07:00Week 26: SolitudeI haven't been posting to this blog much. I've just been too busy with other things. I had some time on my hands with Amy out of town this week, so this is an attempt to get back into things a bit. The blog has been a bit lonely lately, and I've been a little lonely with Amy gone, hence this week's theme. <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3XaEUo6D8A/T8m3zsE6beI/AAAAAAAAB4M/k5bdH4vJyxk/s1600/Solitude-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3XaEUo6D8A/T8m3zsE6beI/AAAAAAAAB4M/k5bdH4vJyxk/s640/Solitude-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aYQGUeH7Mk4/T8m35ZaZnLI/AAAAAAAAB4U/uWm48QvLn1I/s1600/Solitude-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aYQGUeH7Mk4/T8m35ZaZnLI/AAAAAAAAB4U/uWm48QvLn1I/s640/Solitude-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQht6LVJL4Y/T8m3_zS_LAI/AAAAAAAAB4c/8Q4zvo79KnQ/s1600/Solitude-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dQht6LVJL4Y/T8m3_zS_LAI/AAAAAAAAB4c/8Q4zvo79KnQ/s640/Solitude-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6t1dIFR4EA/T8m4HFqOhSI/AAAAAAAAB4k/6utrEKhEWDw/s1600/Solitude-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r6t1dIFR4EA/T8m4HFqOhSI/AAAAAAAAB4k/6utrEKhEWDw/s640/Solitude-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAe0Y2GFhXw/T8m4OHwCabI/AAAAAAAAB4s/pb-e7OV6gXw/s1600/Solitude-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAe0Y2GFhXw/T8m4OHwCabI/AAAAAAAAB4s/pb-e7OV6gXw/s640/Solitude-6.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxJLXplN61A/T8m4WMwa0qI/AAAAAAAAB40/vByU6w6pa1Q/s1600/Solitude-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxJLXplN61A/T8m4WMwa0qI/AAAAAAAAB40/vByU6w6pa1Q/s640/Solitude-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-EMmQannnk/T8m4gHbvmUI/AAAAAAAAB48/YNH29JH5ULw/s1600/Solitude-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-EMmQannnk/T8m4gHbvmUI/AAAAAAAAB48/YNH29JH5ULw/s640/Solitude-8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-85998719305819998432012-04-29T09:37:00.003-07:002012-07-04T15:03:50.730-07:00Week 25: MiscTrying to get back into the swing of things this week. I didn't want to go with a theme to give myself some freedom, but I think it had the reverse effect. All of these photos were taken on the same day, and it was kind of a frustrating experience. I was in a weird state of mind, and I think it came out in my photos. I was trying to latch onto an emotion instead of an actual theme, and it just wasn't happening. I came away from the day very disappointed and thought I didn't get anything good. Once I actually looked at the photos and did some editing, I found some that I wasn't too embarrassed by, so here they are. <br /><br />I like patterns a lot in my pictures and I liked how this one kind of went from the bottom right third to the top left third. It seems very art school project though. Not sure.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TD2FwzEY-rE/T51qCa-35fI/AAAAAAAAB1c/PmSHWFrCFLs/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TD2FwzEY-rE/T51qCa-35fI/AAAAAAAAB1c/PmSHWFrCFLs/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I wandered out into a cornfield for this one. It just looked so lonely standing there. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpzChCeyQrE/T51qH0_oAUI/AAAAAAAAB1k/XC_-KvxJvj8/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JpzChCeyQrE/T51qH0_oAUI/AAAAAAAAB1k/XC_-KvxJvj8/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Something about the combination of man and nature. That feels like a cop-out and a very easy theme to use. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMsKbEPFZPU/T51qPVZPWEI/AAAAAAAAB1s/EeBJa2mqu-8/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nMsKbEPFZPU/T51qPVZPWEI/AAAAAAAAB1s/EeBJa2mqu-8/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This one was actually kind of cool. There was a band of sunlight shining through the trees onto this patch of grass that was being blown by the wind. It created a natural vignette effect. This is one of the few I actually kind of liked when I took it. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKeKAQCouJM/T51qbzLlVbI/AAAAAAAAB10/fUDA510yILc/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GKeKAQCouJM/T51qbzLlVbI/AAAAAAAAB10/fUDA510yILc/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I feel like I kind of cheated with this shot. There's nothing really interesting about it, except for the fact that the colors are really vibrant. And that's because it's three exposures merged together into an HDR image. It would be one thing if the photo had meaning behind it and the HDR just brought that out more, but really it's just the HDR.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x5e-9qUoalw/T51q6LzofhI/AAAAAAAAB2M/sVusPQkDcAw/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x5e-9qUoalw/T51q6LzofhI/AAAAAAAAB2M/sVusPQkDcAw/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Dandelions always look kind of cool. I was really hoping to be able to get some sort of action shot here with the seeds being blown off, but I feel like that's been done a million times, but more importantly I couldn't do it and take the photo at the same time. Even though it's played out, I totally would have done it.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJQucXNYULI/T51qpB1XN0I/AAAAAAAAB2E/PNkdW2cfz8I/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aJQucXNYULI/T51qpB1XN0I/AAAAAAAAB2E/PNkdW2cfz8I/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I don't know...barbed wire. Came out kind of cartooney for some reason. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAOZua564ZU/T51qhFeY3DI/AAAAAAAAB18/yGSFdDXq1kM/s1600/Week+25+-+Misc-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rAOZua564ZU/T51qhFeY3DI/AAAAAAAAB18/yGSFdDXq1kM/s640/Week+25+-+Misc-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-66704793960160800932012-04-01T14:22:00.002-07:002012-04-01T14:26:11.659-07:00Week 24: FoolsSince we had a tournament this weekend called Fools Fest, and I was taking some photos anyway, I figured I would kill two birds with one stone and dedicate this post to the tournament. I tried to pick seven of my favorite from the weekend. <br /><br />I couldn't take many photos, because it's hard to coach and take pictures, but I think I got a couple of decent ones. I don't take nearly enough sports photos to be any good at them. I have a hard time with action and find myself resorting to taking pictures of handlers who are standing still. It's also complicated by the fact that I try and take a quick photo, and then yell something, or I find myself watching a big play instead of taking a photo. Oh well. My number one job is to coach, so pictures are just a bonus.<br /><br />So many things are awesome with this shot. I really like the framing of the two players with the disc in the middle. And, of course, Kayla's face.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8UJIg9y2ak/T3jDwkOB7kI/AAAAAAAABxU/TPJpTQwQw-0/s1600/Fools-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-e8UJIg9y2ak/T3jDwkOB7kI/AAAAAAAABxU/TPJpTQwQw-0/s640/Fools-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I originally thought this was going to be a throw-away shot. How often do shots of the back of people turn out interesting. But I like the fact that the focus is mostly on the Cheshire hat, with Stephanie blurred in the background.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcglIaCbSg0/T3jD4n9tuII/AAAAAAAABxc/iSs20eOFVD0/s1600/Fools-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wcglIaCbSg0/T3jD4n9tuII/AAAAAAAABxc/iSs20eOFVD0/s640/Fools-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I'm pretty sure this girl is short to begin with, then she gets down really low on the mark. Pretty much have no choice but to throw it over the top. This must be what it's like to be tall. Jealous.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIgpN22r5l8/T3jD_Gau3pI/AAAAAAAABxk/m64Cpectjok/s1600/Fools-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XIgpN22r5l8/T3jD_Gau3pI/AAAAAAAABxk/m64Cpectjok/s640/Fools-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>This was kind of an interesting shot. I was zoomed all the way in, focusing on the thrower when the huck went up. I didn't really have time to zoom out and compose and focus, so I just found the receiver and snapped off a shot. I should have held the shutter down to take a series, but I wasn't thinking. I was barely able to get Mollie in frame, but I sort of like it that way. Sure, I miss the defender and Mollie jumping over her, but you don't often see this sort of shot, probably because it's bad :-) <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sN_bJryMsY/T3jEDY-LTtI/AAAAAAAABxs/t6YpU3FfzV4/s1600/Fools-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sN_bJryMsY/T3jEDY-LTtI/AAAAAAAABxs/t6YpU3FfzV4/s640/Fools-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I had to include a team picture. So proud of everyone.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGFpWYTAB1s/T3jENl9H7aI/AAAAAAAABx0/ywkcO2JWTjQ/s1600/Fools-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OGFpWYTAB1s/T3jENl9H7aI/AAAAAAAABx0/ywkcO2JWTjQ/s640/Fools-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>15 people for a tournament, that's awesome. I hope we've turned a corner.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-diNharkAfFY/T3jEUAbpCUI/AAAAAAAABx8/CfTWQWBzOyw/s1600/Fools-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-diNharkAfFY/T3jEUAbpCUI/AAAAAAAABx8/CfTWQWBzOyw/s640/Fools-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>There's so many things that I like about this shot that I can't put my finger on. It's probably not a good sign that I can't pick out what I like about a photo. Oh well.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PalsdG23_1E/T3jEaXaBtEI/AAAAAAAAByE/ux3YECDNedE/s1600/Fools-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PalsdG23_1E/T3jEaXaBtEI/AAAAAAAAByE/ux3YECDNedE/s640/Fools-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-63139351156542810032012-04-01T12:34:00.001-07:002012-04-01T14:26:51.644-07:00Week 23: SpringI figured I'd do something obvious this week and choose spring as my theme. It's been pretty warm here lately and things are starting to bloom, so I figured it would be easy. Then it rained all week. Granted nothing says spring quite like rain, but it made photo taking difficult. As the week wound down, the weather improved, and we decided to go to the prairie, which I figured would be perfect. Turns out the prairie is still pretty dead and dry until it gets burned. Oh well, I still got some decent shots. <br /><br />Kind of like last week, I'm going to let the shots stand alone. There's not too much to say about shots of trees and flowers. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9ZFGHcj8AQ/T3iqKZPFSJI/AAAAAAAABwU/8PxlXOlIJks/s1600/Spring-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9ZFGHcj8AQ/T3iqKZPFSJI/AAAAAAAABwU/8PxlXOlIJks/s640/Spring-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ifxlUkjcdDE/T3iqI1ahg7I/AAAAAAAABvk/Qm70BKmdgR0/s1600/Spring-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ifxlUkjcdDE/T3iqI1ahg7I/AAAAAAAABvk/Qm70BKmdgR0/s640/Spring-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7bT63nFrz34/T3iqJIVPsFI/AAAAAAAABvw/oqqhk5LoQfs/s1600/Spring-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7bT63nFrz34/T3iqJIVPsFI/AAAAAAAABvw/oqqhk5LoQfs/s640/Spring-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIcXQfTKyxY/T3iqJkRQkfI/AAAAAAAABv4/r2xSu-Xi0dE/s1600/Spring-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vIcXQfTKyxY/T3iqJkRQkfI/AAAAAAAABv4/r2xSu-Xi0dE/s640/Spring-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9-P6rpGJP4/T3iqJ1oTnhI/AAAAAAAABwI/JU3AF-l4vqY/s1600/Spring-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r9-P6rpGJP4/T3iqJ1oTnhI/AAAAAAAABwI/JU3AF-l4vqY/s640/Spring-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_FVZGBZkfo/T3itTrR3UqI/AAAAAAAABwo/az1c26BN0vU/s1600/Spring-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_FVZGBZkfo/T3itTrR3UqI/AAAAAAAABwo/az1c26BN0vU/s640/Spring-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDsCL8UDjus/T3itTY0SM5I/AAAAAAAABwg/8Ko-w6oR2G8/s1600/Spring-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="339" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UDsCL8UDjus/T3itTY0SM5I/AAAAAAAABwg/8Ko-w6oR2G8/s640/Spring-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-45015732724491401902012-03-17T12:47:00.001-07:002012-03-17T12:49:53.744-07:00Week 22: MusicDecided after a week where the theme was anger, something a little more calming would be appropriate. I learned a couple of things this week. If I run in the morning instead of at night, I'm much more motivated to take photos, and I have much more motivation with it staying light out longer. Motivation is a good thing. <br /><br />I don't think I'm going to say much about the photos this week, just let them stand on their own. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WOcRxszpmR4/T2TVdbYiEpI/AAAAAAAABtg/4iDCgTihfnY/s1600/Music-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WOcRxszpmR4/T2TVdbYiEpI/AAAAAAAABtg/4iDCgTihfnY/s640/Music-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m2TxtqdSmdQ/T2TVjNsgzAI/AAAAAAAABto/QHM-dW90qCM/s1600/Music-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m2TxtqdSmdQ/T2TVjNsgzAI/AAAAAAAABto/QHM-dW90qCM/s640/Music-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4WbxVO5u_s/T2TVnNvWLeI/AAAAAAAABtw/YInA9DypL1c/s1600/Music-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-N4WbxVO5u_s/T2TVnNvWLeI/AAAAAAAABtw/YInA9DypL1c/s640/Music-3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kh21dAd84Vc/T2TVvjpk6OI/AAAAAAAABt4/Y0qighDtzzM/s1600/Music-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kh21dAd84Vc/T2TVvjpk6OI/AAAAAAAABt4/Y0qighDtzzM/s640/Music-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVHgyQ44Loc/T2TV5_ZDA8I/AAAAAAAABuA/l-YXcxnaYt0/s1600/Music-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sVHgyQ44Loc/T2TV5_ZDA8I/AAAAAAAABuA/l-YXcxnaYt0/s640/Music-5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OIBXSiRxbn4/T2TWFrE5ZLI/AAAAAAAABuI/cWTq8vySKFU/s1600/Music-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OIBXSiRxbn4/T2TWFrE5ZLI/AAAAAAAABuI/cWTq8vySKFU/s640/Music-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rvdRY7no2c/T2TWMSG_BuI/AAAAAAAABuQ/SbwmgnAmD04/s1600/Music-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--rvdRY7no2c/T2TWMSG_BuI/AAAAAAAABuQ/SbwmgnAmD04/s640/Music-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-78703473371847342262012-03-05T21:35:00.002-08:002012-07-12T10:01:07.911-07:00Week 21: AngerSo after a week off I wanted this week to be a good one. I couldn't have come up with a better theme myself for this week, anger. This is perfect timing. I'm at the height of anger and frustration with my photography and I figured I could capture that in my photos. This is supposed to be a photo-a-day project, but I ended up banging all of these out in two days. It felt great. I finally felt creative and thought I got some really interesting shots. <br /><br />This is easily my favorite shot. I feel like I was able to capture exactly the amount of frustration and anger that I feel when I can't think creatively. I also really loved how the lighting turned out on this one. I shot my flash through an umbrella behind me, then I also put another white diffusing panel between the umbrella and me. So any light you see is either wrapping around me, or is bouncing off the rest of the room. I think not lighting my face directly added to the thematic darkness of the photo.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIj2vgRauzs/T1ap0_e3pfI/AAAAAAAABsA/hFX0o8yDTSs/s1600/Anger_2-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIj2vgRauzs/T1ap0_e3pfI/AAAAAAAABsA/hFX0o8yDTSs/s640/Anger_2-1.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MNurRhlTpbo/T1Ve0zgGivI/AAAAAAAABrI/8YVNeaz7WPw/s1600/Anger-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>I call this one 'angry neck'. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSbUl-2tytw/T1ap6kpbSmI/AAAAAAAABsI/OCYWfsuny8I/s1600/Anger_2-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JSbUl-2tytw/T1ap6kpbSmI/AAAAAAAABsI/OCYWfsuny8I/s640/Anger_2-2.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WR0ediLllBY/T1Ve5iYbsSI/AAAAAAAABrQ/R75Do0U9UW4/s1600/Anger-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Sometimes when you're angry you just want to punch something. I wish I could have gotten an action shot of punching something, but it's already hard enough taking self portraits without adding movement into it.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao4lwizFaMo/T1ap-82WNMI/AAAAAAAABsQ/shwENeLSq5I/s1600/Anger_2-3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ao4lwizFaMo/T1ap-82WNMI/AAAAAAAABsQ/shwENeLSq5I/s640/Anger_2-3.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uGZOvOPkfGU/T1Ve9ARUo3I/AAAAAAAABrY/7YETXxHlj4k/s1600/Anger-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>This is me holding the camera by the lens, mad at it because it won't reveal its creative secrets.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jF7ou87VdE/T1aqFI6vrGI/AAAAAAAABsY/bPlCWFrrKQE/s1600/Anger_2-4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jF7ou87VdE/T1aqFI6vrGI/AAAAAAAABsY/bPlCWFrrKQE/s640/Anger_2-4.jpg" width="425" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XsgHTdFMF8g/T1VfC5C4qhI/AAAAAAAABrg/iEmJZjBNM5s/s1600/Anger-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>When you get frustrated with photography you throw and break stuff. Luckily no actual equipment was hard in the making of this shot.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWO38tPJdbQ/T1aqOUX6j7I/AAAAAAAABsg/vk0_ZXMTNxE/s1600/Anger_2-5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWO38tPJdbQ/T1aqOUX6j7I/AAAAAAAABsg/vk0_ZXMTNxE/s640/Anger_2-5.jpg" width="425" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xSSmddAvE4A/T1VfK0oeboI/AAAAAAAABro/37rfnBD2v9Q/s1600/Anger-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>After the intense anger and frustration comes the crushing self doubt. I like how there's a little bit of light illuminating my eye. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54TGO8tEcJ4/T1aqRlXdVjI/AAAAAAAABso/Xx-55Z1vFIk/s1600/Anger_2-6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-54TGO8tEcJ4/T1aqRlXdVjI/AAAAAAAABso/Xx-55Z1vFIk/s640/Anger_2-6.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0BwP4cb-vEI/T1VfNhSGD7I/AAAAAAAABrw/ObTSXASBau8/s1600/Anger-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RIj2vgRauzs/T1ap0_e3pfI/AAAAAAAABsA/hFX0o8yDTSs/s1600/Anger_2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>And sometimes you just have to crush a hat with your hands.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDiJVIH_9i8/T1aqV-M0XhI/AAAAAAAABsw/Ay2mH6AHMno/s1600/Anger_2-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDiJVIH_9i8/T1aqV-M0XhI/AAAAAAAABsw/Ay2mH6AHMno/s640/Anger_2-7.jpg" width="640" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cr2x36EWlDw/T1VfQ5t40aI/AAAAAAAABr4/Z8iFVmF9Lgw/s1600/Anger-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>All in all I'm very happy with how this week went. It showed me that I can get some decent shots when I start feeling creative. Hopefully I'm over the hump and things will get a little easier from here on out.David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1240973277446059237.post-20559134912720243222012-03-03T15:45:00.000-08:002012-07-12T10:01:32.938-07:00Week 20: NightI've been finding this project more and more frustrating. I've been really busy with work and coaching frisbee, which leaves very little time to take photos and feel creative. I feel like the last bunch of posts have all started like this. I took these photos as an attempt to jump-start things a bit. I figure I only have time to take photos at night, so I should make that my theme. Then I can embrace it. I ended up taking a bunch of photos one night, and then not really anything the rest of the week. I think there's also a bit of cabin fever sitting in, and it's hard to come up with new things to take photos of in the house.<br /><br />After taking these photos I took the week off to try and rejuvenate. We'll see if that helps any with next week's theme. I'm encouraged by the fact that I know what I'm putting out sucks. I'm at the point where I know it's bad, but I don't really know what to do to make it better. I don't think it's execution, I think it's pure creativity at this point. I know I have the skill to execute my ideas, but it's those ideas that are failing me now.<br /><br />I think it's important to keep churning away, because I'm not going to get better with my camera sitting at my desk. Hopefully I look back at this post as a turning point.<br /><br />This is a photo I took of a little baby Adipose plush with a Curious George birthday hat. I stuck this little candle light in front of him and there was just something mesmerizing about his eyes. They're just black pieces of plastic, but somehow there's a curiosity in them. I can't explain it. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZZgw4gKfDQ/T1KpK_GPGsI/AAAAAAAABpg/BKlCAd7jxUY/s1600/Night-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qZZgw4gKfDQ/T1KpK_GPGsI/AAAAAAAABpg/BKlCAd7jxUY/s640/Night-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>There's something I really like about this photo. It's not an interesting subject, or an interesting idea, but something about the background and the contrasting light and dark of the cat draws me in. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4bqca8hFUw/T1KpU1O2HVI/AAAAAAAABpo/Tfcu_SGUfAY/s1600/Night-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M4bqca8hFUw/T1KpU1O2HVI/AAAAAAAABpo/Tfcu_SGUfAY/s640/Night-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>The main reason I like this photo is because of the reflection in the wood floor.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ss6zQIE33zc/T1KpY6VoK7I/AAAAAAAABpw/yUzN5GluwpQ/s1600/Night-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ss6zQIE33zc/T1KpY6VoK7I/AAAAAAAABpw/yUzN5GluwpQ/s640/Night-3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>This isn't great, but I kind of liked it at the time. I enjoyed the idea of taking a photo of something that's usually beautiful during the day and still trying to capture some of that beauty when it's lit by a yard light. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkgCfZmnbJ4/T1Kpkq0CmYI/AAAAAAAABp4/g0wxgura308/s1600/Night-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkgCfZmnbJ4/T1Kpkq0CmYI/AAAAAAAABp4/g0wxgura308/s640/Night-4.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>Lately I've been taking a lot of pictures with flashes, so I really wanted to work with the light I had and something that means motion. The first photo I took, I was just trying to take a picture of the light coming through our front door, but the shutter was way too long to make it crisp, so I decided to go with it and really move the camera around. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4W85ZQydR7A/T1Kpwxi6UKI/AAAAAAAABqA/D_rWY2h-wgM/s1600/Night-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4W85ZQydR7A/T1Kpwxi6UKI/AAAAAAAABqA/D_rWY2h-wgM/s640/Night-5.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>The only reason I find this interesting is because of the way the camera somehow only captured half of the numbers. This is the clock on our microwave. I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the refresh rate of the display.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQOTK3YCV9E/T1Kp1Mq2pnI/AAAAAAAABqI/a7UWyLDW1yA/s1600/Night-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mQOTK3YCV9E/T1Kp1Mq2pnI/AAAAAAAABqI/a7UWyLDW1yA/s640/Night-6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I was slightly inspired by the Pixar lamp with this one.&nbsp; <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jH8CutrbTLY/T1Kp7EvOShI/AAAAAAAABqQ/l6VJlqnZ97Q/s1600/Night-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jH8CutrbTLY/T1Kp7EvOShI/AAAAAAAABqQ/l6VJlqnZ97Q/s640/Night-7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>David Hilgendorfhttps://plus.google.com/117479931440508927912noreply@blogger.com2